Miles Bennett
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance of professional golfers. It was started in 1986 and is based on a player's position in individual tournaments over a rolling two-year period. Rankings are calculated each week, with players accumulating points over this two-year period to determine their overall ranking. The calculation is based on a number of factors, including the player's scores in stroke-play events, the relative difficulty of each round, and the number of events they have played. Players are then ranked according to their average score, with the highest scores ranked first.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking Calculation | Divide points total by the number of events played to get an average score |
| Eligible Tournaments | Leading professional golf tours, Major Championships, and competitions around the world |
| Ranking Points | Derived from each Eligible Tournament's Field Rating |
| Ranking Period | Rolling two-year period with new rankings calculated each week |
| Minimum Tournaments | 40 tournaments over a two-year rolling period |
| Maximum Tournaments | 52 tournaments within the two-year period |
| Ranking Points Distribution | Eligible Tournaments curtailed due to events must have a minimum of 36 holes completed to be eligible for Ranking Points |
| Multi-Win Bonuses | Eligible for bonus points for two or more outright wins in Eligible Tournaments within a 52-week period |
| Ranking Initiation | Created by the Championship Committee of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and sports agent Mark McCormack |
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What You'll Learn
Eligible tournaments and tours
To be designated as an eligible tournament, certain criteria must be met. Firstly, the tournament must be organised or sanctioned by an Eligible Golf Tour, as recognised by the OWGR. This includes well-known tours such as the PGA Tour and the European Tour. The tournament must be featured on the Eligible Golf Tour's official schedule and contribute to their end-of-season rankings. Additionally, the tournament should have a minimum field size of 30 qualified players, adhering to the tournament's eligibility criteria.
The number of eligible tournaments considered for a player's ranking is subject to a minimum and maximum limit. Currently, a player must compete in a minimum of 40 tournaments within a two-year rolling period to qualify for a ranking. This minimum divisor of 40 tournaments ensures a substantial sample size for performance evaluation. On the other hand, there is a cap on the maximum number of tournaments considered, known as the “most recent” limit. Since 2012, only a golfer's 52 most recent tournaments within the two-year period are used to calculate their ranking average.
The eligible tours that constitute the OWGR have evolved over time. In 2018, nearly 400 tournaments across 20 tours were covered by the ranking system. This number fluctuated, and in 2025, 24 tours were factored into the world rankings. It's important to note that not all tours are recognised as Eligible Golf Tours. For instance, LIV Golf is not currently recognised and, therefore, cannot receive ranking points.
The eligible tours and tournaments are integral to the OWGR system as they provide the framework for players to accumulate ranking points. These points are derived from each tournament's Field Rating, which takes into account the number of top-ranked players participating. Major Championships, such as The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship, are considered "bigger" events and carry more weight in the ranking calculations, offering more ranking points.
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Calculating points
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance level of professional golfers. It was started in 1986. The rankings are based on a player's position in individual tournaments over a rolling two-year period. New rankings are calculated each week.
Points are awarded based on a player's finishing position in eligible tournaments. Eligible tournaments include leading professional golf tours, Major Championships, and competitions worldwide. Each tournament has a field rating, which is used to determine the number of points awarded to the winner. The field rating is calculated based on the scores of all golfers in the tournament.
The OWGR System is run over rolling ranking periods. Ranking points are maintained at full value for a 13-week period from the date they were awarded, to place additional emphasis on recent performances. After this, ranking points are reduced in equal decrements for the remaining 91 weeks of the ranking period.
To qualify for a ranking, a player must play a minimum of 40 eligible tournaments within the two-year rolling period. There is also a maximum number of tournaments that count towards the ranking, which is currently set at 52.
The number of points awarded for winning a tournament also depends on the "strength of field", or the number of top-ranked players competing. A tournament with a stronger field will typically award more ranking points. For example, Major Championships are considered the pinnacle of men's professional golf and are awarded 100 First-Place Points.
In addition, players who achieve two or more outright wins in eligible tournaments within a 52-week period are eligible for multi-win bonuses. The second win bonus is equal to 60% of the First-Place Points awarded for that win.
The total number of points accumulated by a player over the ranking period is then divided by the number of tournaments they have played to give an average score, which is used to rank the players.
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Ranking periods
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system is run over rolling ranking periods. Ranking points are maintained at full value for a 13-week period from the relevant ranking date on which they were awarded, to place additional emphasis on recent performances. After this, ranking points are reduced in equal decrements for the remaining 91 weeks of the two-year ranking period.
Each player is then ranked according to their average points during the relevant ranking period. This is determined by dividing a player's total points by the number of eligible tournaments they have played during that ranking period, subject to minimum and maximum divisors.
The minimum divisor is 40 eligible tournaments over the ranking period, with a maximum of 52. Only the most recent 52 eligible tournaments that the player has participated in during the relevant ranking period count towards their position in the OWGR.
Players who achieve two or more outright wins in eligible tournaments within a 52-week period are eligible for multi-win bonuses. The second win bonus is 60% of the first-place points awarded for that second win.
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Rating values
The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) is a system for rating the performance level of professional golfers. The OWGR System is run over rolling Ranking Periods. Ranking Points are maintained at full value for a 13-week period from the relevant Ranking Date on which they were awarded to place additional emphasis on recent performances. Ranking Points are then reduced in equal decrements for the remaining 91 weeks of the relevant Ranking Period.
Each player is then ranked according to their average points during the Relevant Ranking Period, which is determined by dividing a player's Total Points by the number of Eligible Tournaments they have played during that Ranking Period. To qualify for a ranking, a player must play a minimum of 40 Eligible Tournaments over a two-year rolling period.
A "world rating value" is calculated for any golfer currently ranked in the world's top 200. The world No. 1 is allocated 45, the No. 2 is allocated 37, the No. 3 is allocated 32, and so on down to those ranked between 101 and 200, who are allocated a rating value of 1 each. The maximum possible world rating value is 925, but this would only be achieved if all the top 200 golfers were playing.
A "home tour rating value" is also calculated. The leading 30 golfers from the previous year's "home tour" are given rating values. Most tours use earnings lists for their top 30, but the PGA Tour currently uses the FedEx points list calculated after the playoffs. The home tour No. 1 is allocated 8, down to those ranked 16 to 30, who are allocated a rating value of 1 each. The maximum home tour rating value is 75 if all the top 30 players from the home tour are competing. The total home tour rating value is limited to 75% of the world rating value.
The world rating value and home tour rating value are added together to give a "Strength of Field" value. This is then converted into an event ranking using a table. For example, a strength of field value of 10 converts to an event ranking of 8, a strength of field value of 100 converts to an event ranking of 24, and a strength of field value of 500 converts to an event ranking of 62.
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Strength of field
The world of golf uses rankings to rate the performance level of professional golfers. The system, which has been in place since 1986, is of considerable significance to a golfer's career.
A golfer's world ranking is calculated by dividing their points total by the number of events they have played, which gives an average score. This average score is then used to rank players, with the highest scores ranked first.
The strength of the field is a key factor in determining the ranking of each event. The strength of the field is calculated by adding together the world rating value and the home tour rating value. The world rating value is calculated by assigning a rating value to any golfer ranked in the world's top 200. The higher the ranking, the higher the rating value. The home tour rating value is calculated by assigning rating values to the leading golfers from the previous year's home tour. The maximum home tour rating value is 75, which is achieved when all the top 30 players from the home tour are competing.
The total home tour rating value cannot exceed 75% of the world rating value. Once the strength of field value is calculated, it is converted into an event ranking using a table. For example, a strength of field value of 100 converts to an event ranking of 24.
The strength of the field is an important concept in golf world rankings as it helps to determine the ranking of each event, which in turn affects the ranking points awarded to players competing in that event.
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Frequently asked questions
The OWGR is a system for rating the performance level of professional golfers. It was started in 1986.
The OWGR is a points-based system. Players accumulate points over a two-year rolling period to determine their ranking. Points are derived from each eligible tournament's field rating.
Eligible tournaments are those from the leading professional golf tours, Major Championships, and competitions around the world. Any player competing in eligible tournaments will receive ranking points subject to their finishing position.
A golfer's world ranking is obtained by dividing their points total by the number of events they have played, which gives their average. Players are then ranked according to their average, with the highest first.
